Project Engineer

Actalent; Dixon (IL); On-site; USD 6,612,000 - 8,403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental & Vision

Critical Illness

Disability Insurance

401(k) Plan

Life Insurance

HSA

Transportation

PTO & Holidays

Employee Assistance

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Project Engineer to support installation, power-up, testing, and commissioning of equipment at our Dixon, IL facility. The role is 7am–3pm with occasional travel to Toledo, OH (2–3 days/month).

You will supervise placement and wiring of processing equipment, ensure safety standards, and drive SAT completion. Essential experience includes 5+ years in field commissioning or capital equipment installation, with strong electrical troubleshooting and ability to read schematics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering preferred but not required.
• Experience with rotating machinery such as mixers, gearboxes, conveyors, and motors.
• Experience with PLC troubleshooting and fieldbus is a plus.
• Project management experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support installation, power-up, testing, and final commissioning of unit operations.
• Oversee positioning, leveling, and structural installation of processing equipment.
• Install conduit and wiring for industrial equipment with point-to-point checks.
• Conduct dry and wet commissioning phases, tuning mechanical components as needed.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical faults to ensure smooth operations.
• Manage and clear the site punch-list to achieve SAT.
• Enforce LOTO and safety standards throughout the installation life cycle.

Skills

Electrical troubleshooting

Read schematics

Code requirements knowledge

Field commissioning experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PLC hardware troubleshooting

Fieldbus communications

Job description

Job Title: Project EngineerJob Description

As a Project Engineer, you will play a critical role in supporting the installation, power-up, testing, and final commissioning of equipment in our new feeders manufacturing facility. You will work primarily from 7am to 3pm, with the potential for travel to our Toledo, OH facility 2-3 days a month. This role involves overseeing the physical positioning and structural installation of processing equipment, and ensuring the facility meets all safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Support the physical installation, power-up, testing, and final commissioning of unit operations.
• Oversee and verify the positioning, leveling, and structural installation of processing equipment.
• Install conduit and wiring for industrial equipment, ensuring accurate point-to-point wiring checks.
• Conduct both dry and wet commissioning phases, tuning mechanical components as necessary.
• Troubleshoot mechanical failures and electrical faults to ensure smooth operations.
• Manage and systematically clear the site punch-list to achieve successful Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Enforce strict Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) and facility safety standards throughout the installation life cycle.

Essential Skills

• Strong electrical troubleshooting and wiring experience for control panels.
• Ability to read industrial schematics, including dimensional drawings and electrical schematics.
• Knowledge of applicable code requirements.
• Minimum of 5 years of dedicated, hands‑on field commissioning or capital equipment installation experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is highly preferred but not required.
• Experience with rotating machinery such as large batch mixers, gearboxes, conveyors, and motors.
• Experience with PLC hardware troubleshooting and fieldbus communications is a plus.
• Project management experience is a plus, particularly in managing small to medium projects.

Work Environment

Join a family‑owned global company with a dedicated team of 150 employees, including 15 individuals in engineering and maintenance. You will be part of the team commissioning a new state‑of-the‑art facility. The company offers well‑defined career paths and a collaborative work environment, providing opportunities for professional growth and development.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Dixon, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $61.00/hr.

• Medical
• dental & vision
• Critical Illness
• Accident
• Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Dixon,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.